Folding crate.



W. MALCHOW. FOLDING CRATE. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 28, 1910.

1,01 7,573, l Patented Feb. 13, 191,2.v

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

l N11-ll ELII'IL' Ml. EILUW v W. MALCHOW.

FOLDING CRATE. APPLICATION FILED 11110.28, 1910.

1,017,573. Patented Fem.13,1912.

2 SHEETS-SHBET 2.

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110914 fot WVM/Lamas A' w WlILLan-L Malchow WILLIAM MALGHOW, OF NATOMA,KANSAS.

FOLDING CRATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

y Patented Feb. 13, 1912.

Application led December 28, 1910. Serial No. 599,662.

To all whom t may cof/wam:

Be it known that I, lVlLLIAM MALoHow, a citizen of the United States,residing at Natoma, in the county of Osborne and State of Kansas, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Crates, of whichthe following is a specification, reference being had therein to theaccompanying trude too far when the crate is in folded position.

Referring to the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective viewof the crate in a folded position. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectionalview through the folded crate. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional viewthrough the folded crate. Fig. 4t is a perspective view of the crate inset-up position, the crate being shown in section to show theconstruction of the securing bolt. Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentaryview of one of the rear walls and shows a hasp, which secures the end inposition. Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing theconstruction of the hasp.

Referring to the accompanying drawings by numerals, it will be seen thatthe improved crate comprises a bottom 1 around the edge of which thereare secured the bottom side bars 2 and the bottom end bars 3. A centerbar 4t is also secured to the bottom and braces the bottom of the crateintermediate its length. The side walls 5 and end walls 6 arerectangular in shape and the side walls 5 are provided with centerbracing bars 7. The side walls are hinged to the bottom side bars by anydesired type of hinges, which are secured to the inner side of the sidewalls and side bars so that the side walls can open to vertical positionand can close to a horizontal position. The bottom end bars arepositioned so that the end walls will be positioned a short distancefrom the ends of the crate. A partition 8 is hinged to the center bar 4so that it may either rest upon the bottom of the crate or may be raisedto a vertical position. An opening 9 is formed through the bottom of thecrate and through the center bar 4f to permit the passage of a bolt 1()which is provided with a transverse` opening through which a pin passesto pivotally secure a pair of side plates 11 to the bolt. A threaded rod12 is rigidly secured to the other ends of the side plates 11 so thatwhen the crate is in a set-up position the end of the rod 12 will eXtendabove the top of the crate. It should be noted that when the securingbolt is moved from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown inFig. t that the side plate 11 will tightly grip the bolt 10 and throughits frictional engagement with the threads of the bolt hold the securingdevice in an upright position while the crate is being set up. The topof the crate comprises a pair of longitudinal sections 13 and 14, whichare similar to the side walls and which are also provided with thecounter bracing bars 15 and 16. The top sections are each provided nearits ends with the staples 17 and each side wall is provided with astaple 18 which is connected with the staple 17 by rings 19 so that thetop sections have a very free movement and can` either be folded uponthe tops of the end walls and center partition, or may be folded backupon the side walls. y

The walls, cover sections, and partition are all provided with a web 20which is provided with a number of openings through which air can beadmitted to the interior of the crate so that when vegetables are beingshipped a free circulation of air will be permitted and the vegetableswill thus be prevented from spoiling. If desired, however, this web maybe dispensed with and any other desired type of wall may be used, such,for instance, as a solid strip of veneering. The end walls are eachprovided with a hasp 21 which is hinged to the outer side and which maybe either turned to lie flat upon the inner side of the wall when thecrate is in a folded position or may be brought up against the ends ofthe top members. Vhen the crate is in a set-up position, the cleats 22have their ends extending through the slot 23 in the hasp where they aresecured into place by a leaded wire 24 or by any suitable type ofpadlock.

In order to set up this crate the end walls and the center partition areraised to a vertical position and the top members are then folded downupon the upper edge of the walls and partition and the hasps placed uponthe cleats where they are secured by locks. lVhen the crate is in aset-up position the threaded end of the rod 12 protrudes through a setof registering notches in the edges of the top members and a plate isplaced upon the protruding ends. The ends 26 of the plate are bent atright angles to the major portion and extend down the sides of the crateto brace the crate. The nut 27 is threaded upon the end of the rod l2and holds the plate 25 in position. lVhen it is desired to fold thecrate, the plate is removed and the hasps removed from the ends of thecleats, the cover members are then turned back upon the side walls andthe end walls and center partition folded down upon the bottom of thecrate, the hasps being turned in upon the walls so that their inner endsare positioned between the end walls and the bottom of the crate. Therod l2 is turned down upon the end walls as shown in Fig. 2 and the sidewalls are folded down upon the end walls and center partition thusbringing the crate in the position shown in F ig. 1. 'The plate 25 isthen placed upon the protruding end of the bolt l() and the securing nut27 threaded upon Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve centseach, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

the end of the bolt. The crate is now in a folded position and is readyto be shipped or placed in a store room.

From the above description it will be noted that there is provided aCrate which can be readily folded or set up and which when in foldedposition forms a very compa-ctmass, and not only takes up a small amountof space but is in no danger of bee ing injured.

TWhat I claim is:

A folding crate and a device for holding said crate in either folded orset up posit-ion7 comprising a threaded bolt, plates pivotally mountedupon said bolt, a threaded rod rig idly secured between the outerl endsof said plates, and a securing nut adapted to be mounted upon said boltand rod, said plates when moved to a vertical position having africtional engagement with the threads of said bolt to retain said rodin a vertical position.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiiX my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

VILLIAM MALCHOV. lVitnesses:

CHRIST KRUsn, ERNEST REINER.

Washington, D. C.

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